Feeler mechanims for looms



Dec. 28 1926;

G. H. WILLARD FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed August 12. 1925 fi e X W. e 5 Q t m 4 M mlwaem all) Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

warren stares GEORGE Ii. l/YILLARD, OE ZEC PEDALE, MASS-3A i PORATZOI Q', 'OF HOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CGRYURLKTION O15 ll'lil'unl l.

Parent EITill, ASSIGNGB TO 1333A FEELER JWECHANISM FOR 11001553.

Application filed August 12. 1925.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, and is more particularly directed to the feeler tip.

It is now the ordinary practice to provide feeler mechanisms for looms to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle and upon substantial exhaustion thereof to initiate a change in the loom operation. The feelers of such mechanisms are usually provided with a toothed tip, the teeth ofwhich sink into the filling on at detecting beat when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle and, in the case of the side slipping feeler, prevent side movement of the feeler until the filling is substantially exhausted, whereupon. the toothed end of the feeler will be free to move along the surface of the wooden bobbin which presents no obstruction to the feeler movement.

In the use of filling of fine count, such as produced by mule spinning, or where the filling is of silk or artificial silk, the filling is usually wound upon a cop tube formed of paper, and much ditliculty has heretofore been experienced in securing a proper operation of thefeeler where it cooperates with a paper cop tube in the shuttle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a side slipping feeler with a feeler tip having teeth so constructed and arranged that the teeth will cooperate with the fine count filling wound upon paper cop tube, such as hereinbefore referred to, to prevent side slipping movement of the feeler when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, but insure side slipping movement of the feeler along the paper cop tube when the filling is substantially exhausted.

The invention and novel features thereof will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a side slipping feeler provided with the novel construction of feeler tip to cooperate with the filling of fine count wound upon a cop tube;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section showing more particularly the relation of the teeth of the feeler tip and filling when a working supply is present on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the teeth of the feeler and the rela- Serial No. 49 733.

tion between them and the cop tube when the filling is substantially exhausted; and

Fig. l is an enlargedperspective view of the feeler tip portion of the feeler.

The shuttle 1 has the usual bobbin holding jaws 2 which engage rings 3 on the spindle head for holdiug the filling carrier detachably in the shuttle. lfilxtending from the head 4 of the carrier the spindle 5 which may be of appropriate char cter to support a paper cop tube (3 on which the fine count filling 7 is wound. I

The front wall of the shuttle provided with the usual. opening 8 through whirh the fecler enters the shuttle to detect the condition of the filling therein,

Mounted upon the loom frame is the feeler stand 9 on which is mounted the side slipping feeler 10 normally pressed rearwardly by the usual spring 11. interposed between the bridge 12 and a front swivel bearing 13 mounted on the feeler stand. The feelor 10 passes through a slide let which may be connected by a transmitter 15 to the controlling means for effecting replenislnnent of filling when the feeler side slips.

As hereinbefore stated, the present invention is directed more particularly to the feeler til )5 the teeth of which will not only prevent premature side movement of the feeler during weaving with-a working supply of filling present in the shuttle upon a detecting beat. butwill permit and insure such side slipping movement when the feeler tip engages the paper cop tube on which the filling is wound. v

The feeler tip comprises a block 16 which may be properly secured to the feeler 10 and which isshown in the present instance of the invention as having a lug 1'? which enters the recess formed in the end of the feeler (as at 18) and is held to the feeler bv means of a bolt or securing screw The particular mechanism for securing the tip to the feelerforms no essential part of the present invention.

The tip block 16 is provided with a series of teeth of novel construction wherein the engaging edges of the teeth are curved lengthwise of'the teeth, in conformity with the curvature of the cop tube. More par ticularly, the teeth are formed by cutting the b ock 16 transversely,that is, in avertical direction, viewing the feeler in feeling position, and curving the engaging edge of the teeth thus cut, so that the teeth transversely of the feeler vary in depth. ltllore specifically, each tooth 20 is formed by cutting the tip block 16, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and concaving each tooth on a curve (as at 21) which conforms to the transverse curvature of the paper cop tube, the effect being, that the depth of the teeth 20 at their outer portions (as at 22) is greater than the depth at any point between, and since such curvature of the teeth conforms to the transverse curvature of the cop tube, the outer end portions 22 of each tooth will sink into the filling, while portions of the teeth between such ends 22 (as at 23) will not engage the filling when a working supply is in the shuttle on a detecting beat, as indicated in Fig. 2. This is by reason of the fact that the curvature of each tooth is formed on a radius less than the radius of the working supply of filling, and either will not engage the working filling at all on a detecting beat or, at least, will not sink into it, the end portions of the teeth 22 at such times serving to prevent side movement of the feeler.

When, however, the filling has become substantially exhausted, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the paper cop tube is exposed to contact by the teeth, the conforming curvature of the teeth and cop tube effect-s contact of the surface of the cop tube with the curved surface of the teeth and the biting effect of the end portions 22 of the teeth is then substantially nullified by the extended contact afforded when filling is substantially exhausted, and the feeler may thereupon slip or slide longitudinally of the cop tube.

It will be noted from the above that the transverse curvature of the engaging edge of the teeth does not conform to the curvature of the working supply of filling but rather to the curvature of the paper cop tube, so that during weaving with a working supply of filling in the shuttle, the end portions 22 of the teeth bite into the filling, while, when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the conforming curvature of the teeth with the curvature of the cop tube e'fl'ects full contact of the teeth with the cop tube without biting effect, and the feeler is free to slip or slide longitudinally of the cop tube.

To further facilitate such movement of the feeler on substantial exhaustion of filling, the trailing tooth of the series is provided with a rounded trailing side (as at 24) with the result that when the feeler starts to slide or move longitudinally along the cop tube. the rounded portion 24 of the trailing tooth offers no obstruction to such free sliding movement.

In weaving with filling of fine count or with silk or artificial silk, the particular construction of the feeler tip herein described has been found in practice to effect a proper working of the feeler; that is, when the paper cop tube has a working supply of filling thereon, the end portion 22 of the teeth effectively prevent premature side slipping movement of the feeler, whereas, when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the conforming curvature of the teeth with the curvature of the cop tube relieves the biting effect of the end portions 22 of the teeth and insures side slipping movement to the feeler along the cop tube.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A side slipping feeler to cooperate with a paper cop tube on which fillin is wound, having a tip formed by a series of fixed teeth extending from top to bottom across the end of the feeler, the edges of which are concaved lengthwise of the teeth to conform with the convex curvature of the paper cop tube with which the teeth engage on substantial exhaustion of filling that during weaving with a working supply of filling in the shuttle only the top and bottom points of the teeth may sink into the fiiling to prevent premature side slipping movement of the feeler and on the occurence of substantial exhaustion of the filling the entire length of the concaved teeth which conform to the convex curvature of the paper cop tube may engage the paper cop tube to facilitate sliding movement of the feeler lengthwise along the paper cop tube.

A slide slipping feeler to cooperate with a paper cop tube on which filling is wound, having a tip formed by a series of fixed teeth extending from top to bottom across the end of the feeler, the edges of which are concaved lengthwise of the teeth to conform with the convex CUTVfltdlC of the paper cop tube with which the teeth engage on substantial exhaustion of filling that during weaving with a working supply of filling in the shuttle only the top and bottom points of the teeth may sink into the filling to prevent prematur-e side slipping movement of the feeler and on the occurence of snbstantial exhaustion of the filling the entire length of the concaved teeth which conform to the convex curvature of the paper cop tube may engage the paper cop tube to facilitate sliding movement of the f'eeler lengthwise along the paper cop tube, the trailing tooth of the series being further provided with a rounded trailing surface having the same concave curvature as the teeth to facilitate sliding movement along the cop tube.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE H. .VILLARD. 

